Traditionally, wedding toasts were given by the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man. But let’s be real, that’s an outdated list.
These days generally both the best man and the maid of honor give a toast. Most weddings we’ve attended/officiated tend to have a toast by both people’s parents — we’ve written many toasts for the mother of the bride/groom! And we’ve seen more and more couples giving a thank you speech at their reception.
Really, it’s totally up to the couple as to who they want to give a toast.
Some couples also choose to have an open mic, allowing anyone to give a toast. Though if you go this route we strongly encourage the MC (or whoever is in charge of the mic) to issue some time limits so no one rambles on too long.
Regardless of who’s speaking at the wedding, if you have been asked to give a toast at someone’s wedding, it’s important to communicate with both the couple and the wedding planner to determine the timeline and expectations.
What order should the speeches go in?
Welcome Speech — traditionally whoever is paying for the wedding
Couple
Wedding party — best man, maid of honor, any other members of the party
But again, it’s totally up to the couple. Couples often choose to speak last (if they aren’t doing the welcome speech) so they can thank everyone who spoke and everyone for coming.
Wait, what’s a welcome speech?
Typically, the welcome speech at a wedding is given by the father of the bride (as traditionally they paid), or the MC (as a way to warm up the audience and get everyone’s attention). However, the welcome speech can really be given by another close family member or friend of the couple.
The purpose of the welcome speech is to greet the guests, thank them for coming, and set the tone for the rest of the speeches and wedding reception. The speaker may also acknowledge special guests, such as elderly relatives, out-of-town guests, or anyone who played a special role in the wedding planning process.
The welcome speech is usually given after the guests have taken their seats and before the food is served. It should be brief, engaging, and upbeat, and should not take up too much time so as not to delay the meal or other wedding activities.
Learn more about how Vow Muse can help with all the wedding words!
